A salve for a sick man. or, A treatiseA salve for a sicke man. or, A treatise

Thus much of the first point, now followeth the second: & that is, how this can be true which Solomon saith: that the day of death is better then the day of birth. I make not this question to call the scriptures into controversy, which are the truth it self, but I do it for this end, that we might without wavering be resolved of the truth of this which Solomon avoucheth. For there may be sundry reasons brought to the contrary. Therefore let us now handle the question: the reasons, or objections ⟨p. 15⟩which may be alleged to the contrary, may all be reduced to six heads. The first is taken from the opinion of wise men, who think it the best thing of all, never to be borne, & the next best to die quickly. Now if it be the best thing in the world not to be borne at all, then it is the worst thing that can be to die after a man is borne. Answ. There be two sorts of men; one that live and die in their sins without repentance; the other, which unfeignedly repent & believe in Christ. Now this sentence maybe truly avouched of the first: of whom we may say as Christ said of Judas, It had bin good for him that he had never bin borne. But the saying applied to the second sort of men is false. For to them that in this life turn to God by repentance, ⟨p. 16⟩the best thing of all is to be borne: because their birth is a degree of preparation to happiness: and the next best is to die quickly: because by death they enter into possession of the same their happiness. For this cause Balaam desired to die the death of the righteous: and Solomon in this place prefers the day of death before the day of birth, understanding that death which is joined with godly life, or the death of the righteous.

Thus much of the first point, now followeth the secōd: & that is, how this can be true which Salomon saith: that the day of death is better then the day of birth. I make not this question to call the scriptures into controuersie, which are the truth it selfe, but I doe it for this ende, that we might without wauering be resolued of the truth of this which Salomon auoucheth. For there may be sundrie reasons brought to the contrarie. Therfore let vs now hādle the question: the reasons, or obiections ⟨p. 15⟩which may be alleadged to the contrarie, may all bee reduced to sixe heads. The first is taken from the opinion of wise men, who think it the best thing of all, neuer to bee borne, & the next best to die quickly. Now if it be the best thing in the world not to bee borne at all, then it is the worst thing that can bee to die after a man is borne. Answ. There be two sorts of men; one that liue and die in their sinnes without repentance; the other, which vnfainedly repent & beleeue in Christ. Now this sentence maybe truly auouched of the first: of whome wee may say as Christ said of Iudas, It had bin good for him that he had neuer bin borne. But the saying applied to the second sort of men is false. For to them that in this life turne to God by repentance,